PROCESSES UTILIZING FERMENTATION VINASSE FOR PRODUCING ENERGY-DENSE BIOMASS AND BIOMASS SUGARS

摘要

This invention provides a process for producing biomass pellets and fermentable sugars from cellulosic biomass, comprising: extracting cellulosic biomass feedstock with steam and/or hot water to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids, wherein at least some of the steam and/or hot water is derived from an internal or external source of fermentation vinasse; separating at least a portion of the hemicellulosic oligomers from the cellulose-rich solids, to produce intermediate solids; hydrotorrefying the intermediate solids to produce the energy-dense biomass, wherein water for hydrotorrefaction is derived, at least in part, from the internal or external source of fermentation vinasse; pelletizing the energy-dense biomass to form biomass pellets; and hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers into fermentable sugars. The fermentation vinasse may be recycled from downstream operations involving fermentation of the sugars. Or the fermentation vinasse may be obtained from a first-generation ethanol plant, for example.

主权项

1. A process for producing energy-dense biomass and fermentable sugars from cellulosic biomass, said process comprising:
(a) providing a feedstock comprising cellulosic biomass; (b) extracting said feedstock with steam and/or hot water under effective extraction conditions to produce an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids, wherein at least some of said steam and/or hot water is derived from an internal or external source of fermentation vinasse; (c) separating at least a portion of said hemicellulosic oligomers from said cellulose-rich solids, to produce intermediate solids; (d) torrefying said intermediate solids to produce said energy-dense biomass; (e) hydrolyzing said hemicellulosic oligomers into fermentable sugars; and (f) recovering said fermentable sugars.